Mr Bingley: Just as a Gentleman Ought to Be - By Brandon Dragan
Just when you thought you'd seen every twist Pride and Prejudice fanfiction could offer, along comes Mr. Bingley: Just as a Gentleman Ought to Be, a book so wild, we had to call in backup. Emilie is joined by returning guest co-host Sharon Cortez for a deep dive into a version of Bingley that moonlights as an assassin on a righteous mission.
Yes, you read that right.
Together, we unpack the ethical gymnastics of vigilante justice, the surprisingly delightful voice performance by the “Pride and Prejudice TikTok Guy” Ben Fensome, and whether Jane Bennet would really say “I do” after hearing her fiancé has a body count.
Turns out, Bingley’s sunshine disposition pairs unexpectedly well with a secret life of crime. Who knew?
🎵 Music Credit:
Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason.
📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com!
➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!
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Only Mr. Darcy - By Julie Cooper
Is love a fancy or a feeling...or fate?
In Julie Cooper’s Only Mr. Darcy, a young Elizabeth Bennet asks her beloved grandmother who she’ll marry, and receives a cryptic answer just moments before the woman passes away. The name? Charles. The result? Absolute certainty that her fate is intertwined with her new neighbor, a handsome man named Charles Bingley…even as he clearly falls for Jane.
This week, we're joined by guest host and longtime Book Clubber Sharon Cortez (Alicia is off on a well-earned summer break!) and we had the best time giggling, blushing, and swooning over this surprisingly tender and low-angst variation. We get into fate vs. free will, the charm of quiet fishing scenes, and why we love a Mr. Darcy who is good husband material. Plus, we debate Bingley’s character and swap stories of how our own Austen obsessions started.
An enjoyable and satisfying read that’s perfect for anyone who loves a smart twist on canon, delicious one-on-one time with Darcy and Elizabeth, and sweet yet swoon-worthy kisses!
🎵 Music Credit: Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason.
📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com!
➡️ Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, or Tik Tok, and sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!
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Author Interview: Summer Hanford
This week on the Pride and Prejudice Book Club, we’re thrilled to welcome our new co-host Sharon Cortez as she joins the podcast for an interview with author Summer Hanford! If you’ve devoured The Bennett Gang Duology and Mr. Darcy’s Bookshop, you already know Summer’s work is delightfully creative and full of heart.
We chat about everything from her writing origins (in a surprise twist, she did NOT always love Jane Austen!) to her development process with longtime collaborator Renata McMann. Summer also teases three wildly different upcoming projects: one swashbuckling, one magical, and one including unexpected guests at Longbourn. Plus, we get a behind-the-scenes look at JAFFCon, the Jane Austen Fanfiction conference being held in November, and hear what it's like having her words brought to life by legendary narrators Stevie Zimmerman and Benjamin Fife.
It’s a discussion that reminds us why we keep returning to this world, and offers a rare peek behind the curtain at how JAFF authors like Summer build the stories we love to share as a community.
Enjoy!
Links 🔗:
JAFFCon: https://jaffwriterreadergettogether.org/
Books by Summer Hanford: https://amzn.to/4kjBJRE
🎵 Music Credit:
Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason.
📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com!
➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!
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Gentlemen of Honor - By Summer Hanford
We’re diving back into the world of Summer Hanford’s Bennet Gang Duology with Gentleman of Honor, the second and final installment in this imaginative Pride and Prejudice variation.
The overall feel of this book was different from the first, with a greater emphasis on Lydia's perspective and some mustache-twirling villains causing mayhem for our band of bandits. But it also wrestled with some difficult questions, such as "What do you do if the one you love is living a lie? A BIG LIE?"
This book may not have captivated us quite like book one, but it still brought intrigue, action, and character development that kept us turning pages. Aaaaand...some swoon-worthy moments with Darcy and Elizabeth (and that's really what we're here for, right?)
🎵 Music Credit:
Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason.
📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com!
➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!
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Dishonorable Gentlemen - By Summer Hanford
We are absolutely buzzing after diving into Dishonorable Gentlemen, the electrifying opener to Summer Hanford’s Bennett Gang Duology, and we can't wait to bring you along!
Without giving too much away, we’ll admit: we were hooked early. The story kicks off with highway robbery (literally) as Hanford reimagines the Bennett sisters as Robin Hood-like figures with some surprising talents and a desire to bring justice to the people of Hertfordshire.
With simmering tension between Darcy and Elizabeth, and a Mr. Collins more fun to despise than ever, this story goes full-throttle from beginning to end!
If you’re drawn to Austen retellings that balance adventure with character depth, and you love seeing how familiar faces respond to fresh challenges, this is one you’ll want to experience for yourself.
Tune in for our full take on Book 1, then join us next week when we dive into Gentleman of Honor!
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🎵 Music Credit:
Pride & Prejudice Book Club Theme composed, performed, and arranged by Megan Mason.
📚 Curious what we will be reading next? See a list of upcoming books at prideandprejudicebookclub.com!
➡️ Follow us on Facebook and Instagram, or sign up for our newsletter at https://www.prideandprejudicebookclub.com/newsletter!
Welcome to the Pride & Prejudice Book Club, where we discuss variations, alternate universes, and fan fiction versions of Jane Austen’s masterpiece Pride & Prejudice! Enjoy a new book (and discussion) every week. Spoiler warning: this is a book club, so we’re going to assume that you’ve read the book....
Ireland